Method of constructing building units

ABSTRACT

THE SPACE BETWEEN THE LATERAL PARTY WALLS OF A SELECTED EXISTING DWELLING OF A ROW-HOUSE COMPLEX IS GUTTED AND THE ENTIRE SPACE CLEARED, AND A TRANSVERSE WALL DEFINING THE REAR END OF THE NEW OR REHABILATED UNIT IS ERECTED BETWEEN THE PARTY WALLS UP TO THE SECOND STORY CEILING LEVEL. FLOOR PANELS ARE INSTALLED ON TEMPORARY SUPPORTS AT THE SECOND FLOOR LEVEL SO AS TO EXTEND INWARDLY FROM THE REAR WALL, AND TWO PREFABRICATED MODULES ARE DELIVERED TO THE SITE, ONE CONTAINING A KITCHEN AND THE OTHER A COMPLETELY EQUIPPED BATHROOM, AND EACH EXTENDING THROUGH A HEIGHT OF ONE STORY. THE FORMER IS CONVEYED BETWEEN THE PARTY WALLS TO A LOCLATION ADJACENT THE FLOOR PANEL, AND AGAINST ONE OF THE PARTY WALLS APPROXIMATELY MIDWAY OF ITS LENGTH, AND THE LATTER IS PLACED UPON THE FORMER. THE FLOOR PANELS ARE THEN TIED TO THE REAR WALL AND THE REAR SIDE OF THE MODULES, AND THE REMAINDER OF THE UNITL, I.E., FLOORS, WALLS, PARTITIONS, ROOFING, ETC., IS THEN COMPLETED AROUND THE MODULES WHICH SERVE AS AN INNER CORE.

N V- 1971 l. ROTHMAN METHQD 0F CONSTRUCTING BUILDING UNITS 7 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 9, 1970 1 l INVENTOR IRVING ROTHMAN ATTORNEYlll.

Nov. 2, 1971 I. ROTHMAN METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING BUILDING UNITS 4 sheet ssht 5 Filed Feb. 9, 1970 INVENIUE lRVING RDTHMAN Hf BY 44.44121,

ATTORNEY Nov. 2, 1971 V I. ROTHMAN METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING BUILDING UNITS4 Sheetsifet 4.

Filed Feb. 9, 1970 INVENTOR 112v ING Roi HMAN' ATTORNEY United StatesPatent Ofiice 3,616,592 Patented Nov. 2, 1971 US. Cl. 52-745 22 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The space between the lateral party walls ofa selected existing dwelling of a row-house complex is gutted and theentire space cleared; and a transverse wall defining the rear end of thenew or rehabilitated unit is erected between the party walls up to thesecond story ceiling level. Floor panels are installed on temporarysupports at the second floor level so as to extend inwardly from therear Wall; and two prefabricated modules are delivered to the site, onecontaining a kitchen and the other a completely equipped bathroom, andeach extending through a height of one story. The former is conveyedbetween the party walls to a location adjacent the floor panel, andagainst one of the party walls approximately midway of its length, andthe latter is placed upon the former. The floor panels are then tied tothe rear wall and the rear side of the modules, and the remainder of theunit, i.e., floors, walls, partitions, roofing, etc., is then completedaround the modules which serve as an inner core. a

My invention, in one of its aspects, is concerned with a method ofrehabilitating a single house or dwelling unit of a rowhouse complex,wherein the first steps are to gut the space between the lateral partywalls above the first floor level to completely clear this space, and tobuild a transverse wall which will constitute the rear wall of therehabilitated unit.

It is an object of the invention to place floor panels at the secondstory floor level between said party walls and against the rear wall.

It is another object of the invention to utilize a pair ofpre-fabricated one-story modules.

It is still another object to place said modules between the partywalls, one superimposed above the other to form a two-story inner core.

It is still another object to build a new front wall across the frontends of the party walls, and to install a floor panel between themodules and the front wall at the second floor level and roof panelsbetween the upper module and the front and rear walls, respectively.

It is still another object to build a vertical shaft or duct between oneside of said modules and one of the party walls for the accommodation offines and utility conduits.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent in thelight of the detailed description which follows in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one of the prefabricated modulesabout to be placed into the cleared space between the party walls;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the first floor level showing the lower modulein place;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the second floor level showing the upper modulein place;

FIG. 4 is a view of the lower module mounted in a harness or sling priorto being conveyed to its installed position;

FIG. 5 is a view along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view of the upper module in its carrying sling about to bedeposited in its installed position on the top of the lower module;

FIG. 7 is a view along line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of a composite floor or roofpanel;

FIG. 9 is a vertical section through line 9-9 of FIG. 2, beforecompletion of the upper half of front wall 33, and prior to moving floorpanels 34 to their final position in engagement with module 1.

The invention, in one of its aspects, is concerned specifically withrehabilitation of the row-house type of housing which serves asubstantial portion of the low-income population of many of our cities.It enables the complete rehibilitation of an individual dwelling unitindependently of any other; it is readily compatible with conformance toexisting building and fire prevention codes; it makes possible asubstantially complete enclosure of the working area within a short timeafter operations have begun, whereby the interior may be heated andprotected against the weather and whereby the job may be carried tocompletion without interruption; each job can be completed in a matterof a few days by employing a qualified crew of 15 to 20 men working incontinuous shifts, thereby reducing hardship on displaced families aswell as keeping vandalism down to a minimum. For these reasons, amongothers, I believe that my invention as described and claimed hereinaftercan make an important contribution, at least for the short run, to anyprogram which has among its purposes to counteract the steady erosion ofavailable lowcost housing which is at work in our cities today.

A key feature of my invention is the utilization of prefabricatedmodules designated by reference numerals 1 and 2 of the drawings. Module1 is designed to serve as the lower half and module 2 as the upper halfof the inner core of the rehabilitated dwelling unit. Each module is onestory in height, the lower one containing a kitchen 3 with a sink 5 andcabinets 7 installed at the first floor level, and the upper onecontaining a bathroom 9 with plumbing fixtures installed at the secondfloor level. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the modules also includeclosets, doorways, doors, and hallways, as well as staircase 10, and avertical duct 12 for conveying hot air from the heating unit in thecellar to outlet registers on the second floor. Also, the modules willcome equipped with electrical and pumbing lines, together with fittingsenabling quick connection to the water and power supplies in the cellarand to load circuits in the dwelling unit.

Module 1, details of which are shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, is provided atits bottom with a plywood subfloor 14, which will rest on the floorjoists 32 at the building site. Covering the top of the module is asheet of plasterboard, or the like, and above this a series of joists 16spaced on 32-inch centers. In the lower end of each of the partitions 24is incorporated a horizontal beam 26, as shown in FIG. 4, to lendstrength and rigidity to the module during its conveyance to theinstalled position.

Module 2, as shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, has a plywood subfloor 20, belowwhich are attached joists 22 on 32- inch centers and strength beams 25at the two ends. End beams 25 and joists 22 at the bottom of module 2,provide the strength and rigidity required for the safe conveyance ofmodule 2 to its installed position. The joists 22 of module 2 arestaggered in relation to the joists 16 of module 1, whereby the two setsof joists will intermesh on 16-inch centers when module is depositedupon module, as can be seen in FIG. 6. Module 2 incorporates in its topsection a series of joists topped by a sheet of plywood.

The existing dwelling unit selected for rehabilitation may be either twoor three stories in height and may or may not include a cellar. Where acellar is present, it will usually be necessary to build a new rear wallsection below, as well as above the first floor level, since the rebuiltunit will be of a more compact design than its predescessor, and the oldrear wall is often irregular in shape. Accordingly, at this stage therear wall at the new location is built up to the first floor level. Atabout the same time, load bearing elements, including horizontal beamssupported on vertical struts, are installed in the cellar for carryingthe weight of the modules which will subsequently be placed thereabove.This is shown in FIG.

9, wherein the front and rear sides of the module 1 are shown invertical alignment above and supported by beams 11 which, in turn, reston vertical struts 13. (Throughout this specification, the terms frontand rear are intended to denote directions toward the front and rear endof the house, respectively. In FIGS. 2, 3 and 9, the front end is at theright and the rear end at the left.) In those instances where there isno cellar and the existing unit rests on a foundation slab, bearingelements for supporting the extra weight of the modules will beinstalled in the slab.

Thereafter, all the existing structure, including the front and rearwalls, located above the floor level of the first story and between thelateral party walls 15, 17, forming part of the adjacent houses oneither side, is demolished and removed, leaving a space between theparty walls which is unobstructed in the forward, rearward, and upwarddirections. Any preparatory or repair Work deemed necessary with regardto the lateral walls, flooring, cellar joists, etc., may be performed atthis time utilizing the conventional procedures known to practitionersof the building arts.

The rear transverse wall 31 is now built above ground to its designheight of two stories, and the front wall 33 is erected in part, i.e.,up to a height of one story, as shown in FIG. 1. Appropriate openingsfor doors and windows are provided in the walls during the course oftheir erection. A series of horizontally aligned openings 28 isincorporated in wall 31 at the second floor level, as shown in FIG. 9,for a purpose to be presently explained.

Before the modules are brought to their position of installation, floorpanels 34 are mounted on temporary supports 36 at the second floor levelwith their rear side adjacent the rear wall 31. Each panel comprises aprefabricated assembly of joists to which is fastened an upper sheet ofplywood subflooring 38 as illustrated in FIG. 8. The joists extendbeyond the plywood sheet at opposite edges thereof to terminate inprojections 41 as shown in FIG. 8. The projections 40 at the rear sidesof the panels are dimensioned and arranged so as to register with thepreviously mentioned openings 28 in wall 31. These projections are ofsuch length as to permit a limited frontto-rear displacement of thepanels while at the same time providing adequate interengagement betweenopenings 28 and projections 41 to maintain support of the rear ends ofthe panels during such limited displacement. The panels are supported intheir rear-most position by openings 38 and temporary supports 36 inorder to insure adequate clearance for module 1 as it is being loweredinto position.

The modules, having been previously assembled at the factory, aredelivered to a location in front of the cleared space at the site. Theyare then moved by any suitable conventional means, e.g., a crane, overthe partially erected front wall 33, to their ultimate location betweenthe standing party walls. FIG. 1 shows the module 1 suspended by asupporting harness 23 and about to be moved to its ultimate positionindicated by broken lines at 27.

The carrier or sling for conveying module 1 from its point of deliveryto its installed position is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. It comprises a pairof steel I-beams 38 positioned underneath the module transversely of thebeams 26, cable sections 40 connected to the I-beams and extendingvertically therefrom to a rigid frame 42. and thence to a hook 44secured to a crane or hoist cable 46. As the side 48 of the module mustbe clear of bstructions in order that the module may be placed againstwall 17 the I-beams must not project beyond side 48 and the cablesections 40 at this end of the module must be located inwardly of side48. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 4, holes '50 and 52 are providedin the ceiling element 18 and subfloor 14, respectively, through whichtwo of the cable sections pass from frame 42 to I-beams 38. Thisarrangement will not disturb the balance unduly, since the center ofgravity of module 1 is biased to the right in FIG. 1, by the plumbinglines and kitchen equipment incorporated in the left portion of themodule.

It should be noted, at this point, that the loading of module 1 onI-beams 38, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is such that when the module isplaced in its installed position the I-beams will be oriented in thesame direction as, i.e., parallel to, the first floor joists 32.Thisenables the I-beams to pass between the joists 32 thus permittingthe bottom of the module to come into contact with the top of joists 32,whereby there is a complete transfer of the weight of the module fromthe I-beams 38 to the floor joists 32. Once this condition has beenattained, the cables 40 are disengaged from the I-beams 38, and thelatter are removed and made available for re-use.

The sling or carrier arrangement with regard to module 2 is generallysimilar to that described with regard to module 1. However, in the caseof module 2 there is no need for any of the vertical cables 40 to passthrough the interior of the module. This is so because of the presenceof joists 22 and beams 25 which are provided at the bottom of module 2,and which can be extended at both ends beyond the limits of the module,as shown at 54 in FIG. 7, thereby permitting the I-beams 38 and cablesections 40 to be located in the positions indicated in FIGS. 6 and 7.

After module 1 has been deposited in its ultimate location, module 2 isplaced upon the top of module 1 in vertical alignment therewith. (FIGS.6 and 7 show module 2 about to be placed upon module 1.) The rear roofpanels 56 are now installed at the second story ceiling level betweenrear wall 31 and upper module 2. These panels are similar inconstruction to the floor panels 34, except that the rear projections 58of the former are shorter than the corresponding projections 40 of thelatter, since once the roof panels 56 have been placed in supportedrelation to rear wall 31 and upper module 2, there is no need forhorizontal shifting of the roof panels. The front projections 60 of roofpanels 56 will extend into recesses located in the upper portion ofmodule 2.

Also at this stage of the operation, the floor panels 34 are shiftedforwardly to their ultimate position wherein their projections 64 extendinto the recesses located between the upper and lower modules and reston the latter. This maneuver will obviously create a gap at the rear endof the subflooring; however, the gap is subsequently filled by theinstallation of a strip of plywood adjacent the rear wall 31.

The relation between the modules as finally positioned and the remainderof the fixed structure is clearly evident from FIGS. 2 and 3, which showthe modules adjoining the party wall 17 approximately midway of thelatters length, and being spaced from the opposite party Wall 15 so asto leave a space 29 therebetween. The space 29 will subsequently beclosed by end partitions 45 to form a vertical chase for theaccommodation of flues, vent lines, etc. In the plan views of FIGS. 2and 3, only the modules 1 and 2 and walls 15, 17, 31 and 33 are shown infull lines, while other features to be installed, e.g., interiorpartitions, etc., are represented by bro-ken lines.

Normally two floor panels (or roof panels) will be employed to cover thespan between the side walls 15 and 17, i.e., two panels rear-Ward of thetwo modules and two forward of the modules, as I have found that for theaverage building unit this will result in a panel having a weight andsize capable of being readily handled by four men. In FIG. 2 I haveindicated at broken line 70 the plane of abutment between the two rearfloor panels 'Which will be installed at the ceiling level of the firstfloor. It will be noted that because of the gap at 29 between module 1and side wall 15, the inner side of one of the panels will be supportedonly partially by the module. To provide continuous support for thefront side this panel, conventional framing is provided at the ceilinglevel in alignment with the rear partition shown in dotted lines at 45of FIG. 2. This framing will serve to support those joist projections atthe forward side of the panel which are not accommodated by the module.Similar framing installations at the front side of space 29 and atcorresponding locations at the ceiling level of the second story willprovide support for the remainder of those floor and roof panelprojections disposed along the front and rear sides of space 29.

The work is continued at the front end of the building with theinstallation of floor and roof panels 66 and 68, which are similar tothe previously installed rear roof panels 56 and are constructed asshown in FIG. 8. The front floor panels 66 will be supported by module 1and partially built wall 33, while roof panel 68 is supported ontemporary supports 72 and tied into the front of rndule 2 at the ceilinglevel of the second story. At this point erection of the front wall 33is resumed and completed up to the second floor ceiling level and thejoist projections at the front side of panel 68 are fixed upon wall 33in supported relation thereto.

The stage of the job illustrated in FIG. 9, with both modules in placeand the front roof panels in place on temporary framing or scaffolding,will generally be reached in a matter of hours after delivery of themodules to the site. At this stage the work area is enclosed except forthe absence of the upper part of front wall 33. In order to make theenclosure substantially complete, a flexible weather curtain, shown at74 in FIG. 9, made of clear plastic, may be hung from temporary supports76 attached to the roof panels 68, pending completion of wall 33. Thiswill insure early protection against the weather and permit heating theinterior, thus avoiding interruptions during the remaining time required to complete the balance of the work.

I have indicated hereinbefore that the method of my invention isparticularly suited to the rehabilitation of existing dwelling units.However, it will be appreciated that the invention can be readilyapplied to the construction of new dwelling units. In such instances theside and rear walls and part of the front wall will be erected in thecourse of the new construction, and the steps of my method may then becarried out in the manner set forth above.

My method may also be employed for projects not including cellars, e.g.,wherein the first floor of the unit rests directly on a concrete slab.In this situation the slab would be suitably reinforced at the points ofsupport for the module; and a utility room would be incorporated in thelower module to accommodate space heater and water heater units. Also,recesses would be provided in the slab for receiving the I-beams onwhich the lower module is carried so as to permit the bottom of themodule to come into contact with and tobe directly supported by theslab. The I-beams would be left to remain permanently under the moduleafter being disengaged from the carrier cables.

In the foregoing exposition I have refrained from describing numerousadditional steps and procedures which, although necessary to thecompletion of the finished dwelling unit, are such as would require nomore than the exercise of routine skill and knowledge within thecapacity of competent practitioners in the building arts. The omissionhas been made in the interests of brevity and clarity, as it relates tomatters not directly relevant or necessary to an understanding of myinvention.

I claim:

1. In the construction of a two-story building unit utilizingpre-existing structure comprising first and second spaced, parallel,vertical side walls interconnected at one end by a transverse wall, saidwalls being of a height adequate to accommodate a two-story buildingunit, the

method comprising the steps of placing floor panels on temporarysupports between said side walls in a horizontally oriented position atthe floor level of the second story and in contact with said transversewall, placing between said side walls a modular structure in the formgenerally of a rectangular parallelepiped extending through a height oftwo stories so that it occupies a position against one of said sidewalls and wherein one of its sides is adjacent one side of said panels,adjusting said panels so that they are supported at opposite sides bysaid transverse wall and said modular structure, respectively, andremoving said temporary supports.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said modular structure is composed of afirst and a second prefabricated module, each extending through a heightof one story, and wherein the step of placing said modular structurebetween said side walls comprises the sub-steps of depositing said firstmodule in its installed position and depositing said second module uponsaid first module in vertical alignment therewith.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the pre-existing structure contains acellar and including the additional step of installing load transmittingstructural members between the cellar floor and ceiling in verticalalignment with the installed position of said modular structure prior tosaid step of placing said modular structure, whereby the weight of saidmodular structure will be borne by said members.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein each of said floor panels hashorizontal projections extending outwardly at the front and rear sidesthereof, and wherein said trans verse wall is formed with openings atthe second story floor level positioned to register with the rearprojections of said floor panels, said rear projections being ofsufficient length to permit a limited horizontal front-to-reardisplacement of said panels while maintaining said rear projections insupported relation to said openings, said step of placing said floorpanels on temporary supports being characterized by placing said floorpanels in their rearmost position with said rear projections engaged insaid openings, and said step of adjusting said floor panels beingcharacterized by shifting said floor panels forwardly to engage saidforward projections with said modular structure in supported relationthereto.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein each of said floor panels hashorizontal projections extending outwardly at the front and rear sidesthereof, and wherein said transverse wall is formed with openings at thesecond story floor level positioned to register with the rearprojections of said floor panels, said rear projections being ofsuificient length to permit a limited horizontal front-to-reardisplacement of said panels while maintaining said rear projections insupported relation to said openings, said step of placing said fioorpanels on temporary supports being characterized by placing said floorpanels in their rearmost position with said rear projections engaged insaid openings, and said step of adjusting said floor panels beingcharacterized by shifting said floor panels forwardly to engage saidforward projections with said modular structure in supported relationthereto.

6. In the construction of a two-story building unit utilizingpre-existing structure including a pair of parallel vertical side wallsinterconnected at one end by a trasverse wall, said side walls being atleast two stories high and said transverse wall being one story high,the method comprising the steps of placing between said side walls amodular structure in the form generally of a rectangular parallelepipedextending through a height of two stories so that it occupies a positionagainst one of said side walls and spaced from said transverse wall, andmounting floor panels at the floor level of the second story between andin supported relation to said modular structure and said transversewall.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said modular structure is composed of afirst and second prefabricated module, each extending through a heightof one story, and wherein the step of placing said modular structurebetween said side walls comprises the sub-steps of depositing said firstmodule in its installed position and depositing said second module uponsaid first module in vertical alignment therewith.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the pre-existing structure contains acellar and including the additional step of installing load transmittingstructural members between the cellar floor and ceiling in verticalalignment with the installed position of said modular structure prior tosaid step of placing said modular structure, whereby the weight of saidmodular structure will be borne by said members.

9. In the construction of a two-story building unit utilizingpre-existing structure including first and second parallel, verticalside walls interconnected by a first transverse wall at one end and asecond transverse wall at the other end, said first transverse wallbeing two stories high, and said second transverse wall being one storyhigh, the method comprising the steps of placing floor panels ontemporary supports between said side walls in a horizontally orientedposition at the floor level of the second story and in contact with saidfirst transverse wall, placing between said side walls a modularstructure in the form genorally of a rectangular parallelepipedextending through a height of two stories so that it occupies a positionagainst.

said first side wall and spaced from said transverse walls, and whereinone of its sides is adjacent one side of said panels, adjusting saidpanels so that they are supported at opposite sides by said firsttransverse wall and said modular structure, respectively, mountingadditional floor panels at the floor level of the second story betweenand in supported relation to said modular structure and said secondtransverse wall.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said modular structure is composed ofa first and a second pre-fabricated module, each extending through aheight of one story, and wherein the step of placing said modularstructure between said side walls comprises the substeps of depositingsaid first module in its installed position and depositing said secondmodule upon said first module in vertical alignment therewith.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said first mentioned floor panelshave horizontal projections extending outwardly at the front and rearsides thereof, and wherein said first transverse wall is formed withopenings at the second story floor level positioned to register with therear projections of said first mentioned floor panels, said rearprojections being of suflicient length to permit a limited horizontalfront-to-rear displacement Willie maintaining said rear projections insupported relation to said openings, said step of placing said firstmentioned floor panels on temporary supports being characterlzed byplacing said first mentioned floor panels in then rearmost position withsaid rear projections engaged in said openings, and said step ofadjusting said first mentionedfloor panels being characterized byshifting said first mentioned floor panels forwardly to engage saidforward pro ections with said modular structure in supported relationthereto.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the installed position of saidmodular structure is such that said modular structure is spaced fromsaid second side wall, and includ ing the additional step of enclosingthe space between said modular structure and said second side wall withvertical partitions to form a shaft extending through two stories foraccommodating fiues and utility conduits.

13. The method of claim 12 including the step of installing horizontalframing members at the ceiling levels of the first and second storiesacross said space and in alignment with the front and rear sides of saidmodular structure, and wherein said steps of adjusting and mounting saidpanels are characterized by placing into engagement with said framingmembers some of the projections of those panels located adjacent saidsecond side wall.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the pre-existing structure contains acellar and including the additional step of installing load transmittingstructural members between the cellar floor and ceiling in verticalalignment with the installed position of said modular structure prior tosaid step of placing said modular structure, whereby the weight of saidmodular structure will be borne by said members.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein said first mentioned floor panels havehorizontal projections extending outwardly at the front and rear sidesthereof, and wherein said first transverse wall is formed with openingsat the second story floor level positioned to register with the rearprojections of said first mentioned floor panels, said rear projectionsbeing of sufiicient length to permit a limited horizontal front-to-reardisplacement while maintaining said rear projections in supportedrelation to said openings, said step of placing said first mentionedfloor panels on temporary supports being characterized by placing saidfirst mentioned floor panels in their rearmost position with said rearprojections engaged in said openings, and said step of adjusting saidfirst mentioned floor panels being characterized by shifting said firstmentioned floor panels forwardly to engage said forward projections withsaid modular structure in supported relation thereto.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the installed position of said modularstructure is such that said modular structure is spaced from said secondside wall, and including the additional step of enclosing the spacebetween said modular structure and said second wall with verticalpartitions to form a shaft extending through two stories foraccommodating flues and utility conduits.

17. In the rehabilitation of an existing row-house extending through atleast two stories and occupying a space whose lateral boundaries aredefined by first and second spaced, parallel vertical side walls, themethod comprising the steps of detaching all the fixed structure locatedin the space between said walls above the floor level of the firststory, clearing said space, erecting a rear transverse wall between saidside walls to a height of two stories, erecting a front transverse wallbetween said side walls to a height of one story, placing floor panelson temporary supports between said side walls in a horizontally orientedposition at the floor level of the second story and in contact with saidrear transverse wall, placing between said side walls a modularstructure in the form generally of a rectangular parallelepipedextending through a height of two stories so that it occupies a positionwherein its rear side is adjacent one side of said panels and its frontside spaced from said front transverse wall and wherein another of itssides lies against said first side wall, installing roof panels at thesecond story ceiling level between said modular structure and said reartransverse wall, placing additional floor panels at the floor level ofthe second story between and in supported relation to said modularstructure and said front transverse wall, placing additional roof panelsat the second story ceiling level on temporary supports between saidside walls and in front of said modular structure, tying said additionalroof panels to the front side of said modular structure, adjusting saidfirst mentioned floor panels so that they are supported at their frontand rear sides by said modular structure and said rear wall,respectively, completing said front transverse wall up to the top of thesecond story, tying the front side of said second fioor panels to saidfront transverse wall, and removing said temporary supports.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said modular structure is composed ofa first and second prefabricated module, each extending through a heightof one story, and wherein the step of placing said modular structurebetween said side walls comprises the sub-steps of depositing said firstmodule in its installed position and depositing said second module uponsaid first module in vertical alignment therewith.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the installed position of saidmodular structure is such that said modular structure is spaced fromsaid second side wall, and including the additional step of enclosingthe space between said modular structure and said second wall withvertical partitions to form a shaft extending through two stories foraccommodating hues and utility conduits.

20. The method of claim 19 including the step of installing horizontalframing members at the ceiling levels of the first and second storiesacross said space and in alignment with the front and rear sides of saidmodular structure, and wherein said steps of placing and adjusting saidpanels are characterized by placing into engagement with said framingmembers some of the projections of those panels located adjacent saidsecond side wall.

21. The method of constructing a two-story building unit on arectangular site comprising erecting first and second side wallslengthwise of said site to a height of two stories, erecting a firsttransverse wall interconnecting one end of said side walls to a heightof two stories, erecting a second transverse wall interconnecting theother end of said side Walls to a height of one story, placing floorpanels on temporary supports between said side walls in a horizontallyoriented position and in contact with said first transverse wall,placing between said side walls a modular structure in the formgenerally of a rectangular parallelepiped extending through a height oftwo stories so that it occupies a position against said first side walland spaced from said transverse walls, and

wherein one of its sides is adjacent one side of said panels, mountingadditional floor panels at the floor level of the second story betweenand in supported relation to said modular structure and said secondtransverse wall.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said modular structure is composed ofa first and a second prefabricated module, each extending through aheight of one story, and wherein the step of placing said modularstructure between said side walls comprises the substeps of depositingsaid first module in its installed position and depositing said secondmodule upon said first module in vertical alignment therewith.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,168,725 8/1939 Whelan 52-2362,841,975 7/1958 Bruckmayer 52236 3,533,204 10/ 197-0 Wallace 52-236FOREIGN PATENTS 216,579 1958 Australia 52-236 1,138,751 1957 France52-262 JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 5279, 236

